A fantasy video showing a gigantic flying hotel that can stay in the sky for years on end has caused a sensation online, despite being beyond the realms of current technology and violating the laws of physics.
However, the Yemeni engineer Hashem Al-Ghaili who created the conceptual video of the Sky Cruise based on a futuristic design by the artist Alexander Tujikov, insists that it is only a “matter of time” before aviation engineering catches up.
And, he says, his strange concept will help push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Al Ghaili told CNN who wants Sky Cruise to be a talking point to inspire new innovations that will help replace the “tiring” and “outdated” experience of flying today.
“So I envisioned a world where flying from place to place becomes a joyful experience rather than fighting for legroom,” he said via email.
castle in the sky
Al Ghaili says he was inspired by one of his favorite films, Studio Ghibli’s “Castle in the Sky” anime, which features huge flying ships with people living inside.
Like these ships, the Sky Cruise has a massive scale, with a capacity of around 5,000 guests, and recreational facilities like cinemas, swimming pools, spas and even shopping malls.
The Sky Cruise would run on clean nuclear fusion power – technology that does not currently exist – which would allow it to “stay above the clouds for several years”, says Al Ghaili.
Supplies and guests would be flown to the hotel using electric commercial planes and private jets, he adds.
Turning this concept into reality is just “a matter of time”, according to the engineer. However, due to its size, it would need new infrastructure and aviation sector adjustments.
“Sky Cruise is super massive!” he says. “That means you’re going to need a huge track that doesn’t exist right now.”
disruptive concepts
Not only that, but it would also require changes to air navigation protocols to ensure other air traffic gets out of your way.
Not everyone shares Al Ghaili’s confidence in the potential of extraordinary design, with several among his 30 million Facebook followers pointing out the Sky Cruise’s fundamental design flaws.
“Nuclear or not, gravity never lets this thing take off,” wrote one. Some questioned the wisdom of sending a nuclear reactor into the air, while another pointed to a very simple problem: keeping water in the pool during takeoff.
Al Ghaili insists his video, viewed 9.3 million times on Facebook, has a purpose beyond viral entertainment.
“Disruptive concepts like this inspire change and help us move humanity forward,” he says.
Source: CNN Brasil
